CHILPANCINGO, Mexico — The decapitated bodies of the soldiers lined a major boulevard, accompanied by a sign: “For every one of mine that you kill, I will kill 10.”
A bag of their heads, some still gagged with tape, was found nearby.
The discovery in Chilpancingo, an hour north of the resort of Acapulco in southern Mexico, marked the most gruesome attack yet against the Mexican army in its half-century battle against drug gangs.
The government honored the dead Monday in a high-profile ceremony aimed at reassuring the nation that it won’t surrender, despite escalating violence that has resulted in 5,300 deaths this year and the betrayal of more than a dozen top law enforcement officials accused of accepting money to protect cartels.
The beheadings also came as Mexico prepares to use $400 million in U.S. aid to fortify its war on traffickers.
President Felipe Calderon said the attack shows that his government’s crackdown is putting pressure on the cartels, and he promised “firm action” in response.
“We are well aware that these cowardly assassins are trying to terrorize the state and society,” Calderon said at a speech in Mexico City. “We will not take one step back in this fight, nor will there be any deal or mercy for the country’s clear enemies.”
Authorities found 12 decapitated bodies Sunday in and around Chilpancingo, the capital of Guerrero state.
So far, officials have identified seven as soldiers but haven’t given information on the others.
Mexico often has turned to the army to battle drugs since sending troops in a “great campaign” to wipe out drug plantations in 1948. Soldiers have grown ever more involved in tackling narcotics since then, largely because of corruption among police forces.
Gangs that once avoided confrontations with the army have responded with unprecedented violence, launching ever-bolder and bloodier killings, targeting not only rivals but also police and soldiers on a nearly daily basis.
Sunday’s discovery, however, was the largest group of soldiers beheaded at once.
